Dangerously packed bar raided, liquor license suspended

An Albany bar raided last weekend was so overrun with underage patrons that authorities decided it was more important to empty the place quickly than try to verify IDs, according to the State Liquor Authority.

The business, called the Garage, had its license to sell alcohol suspended Friday at a special meeting of the SLA board, an agency spokesman said. Authorities issued the bar 13 violations for sale to minors, improper supervision, building code violations and inadequate books and records.

When investigators arrived at 1:35 a.m. last Saturday at the Garage, located at 214 Western Ave., they found an estimated 500 people, many appearing underage, in a facility licensed to hold no more than 250, the spokesman said.

“The demand for alcohol by the youngsters packed in the Garage that night was so staggering, the owner had to resort to asking customers to act as guest bartenders to assist his overwhelmed staff,” said SLA CEO Trina Mead in a statement.

The SLA documented 14 underage violations — 10 direct sales to minors and four minors observed consuming alcohol. According to the SLA’s account, “Numerous additional underage violations could not be documented, as investigators were compelled due to safety concerns to usher patrons out of the premises without verifying their IDs.”

Patrons in the bar that night told me the overcrowding resembled a sweaty, jostling mosh pit, and investigators said that, in terms of the potential for injury, it was one of the most unsafe scenes they’ve encountered in years.

State law permits the SLA to suspend a license to sell alcohol if authorities find that public health, safety or welfare “imperatively requires emergency action.”

Said Mead, “This licensee’s appalling behavior demonstrates an utter contempt for the law and a total disregard for the safety of his patrons.”

The Garage is located downstairs from a pub called Professor M. Barley’s; they share a street address. The owner of both is Mark Basco, a longtime Albany nightclub owner.

Basco’s wife, Christine, reached at M. Barley’s, said she was unaware of the SLA’s action and referred all other questions to her husband. He did not call back immediately.

Over the years multiple alcohol violations have been issued to businesses at 214 Western, with past names including The Lamp Post and the Oasis; a bar there called the Coliseum had its temporary liquor license suspended and permanent license denied for underage sales in February of last year, and SLA fines totaling more than $6,000 were levied in 2003, according to records.

After an immediate, or summary, suspension is issued, the business is entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The suspension remains in effect until it is changed by the SLA or a court.

81 Responses

Thanks for shutting “pink martini” up Kim2!!! You just gave him THE TRUTH and we won’t be hearing from them again!

ps–these “brothers” (that don’t even even live near Albany) are just like slumlords, and should be held accountable for what kind of places they chooses to allow be run in their buildings. These guys probably want to knock the wall down and make “Plastic” twice as big!

I also know the guys who own the building “The Assembly” will be in and I can tell you this: there name may be on the paperwork but they will not be running it. That is why nobody is coming forward to say they have anything to do with it. They can’t afford to have the SLA knowing that someone else is running the show under their liquor license. By the way, even if what I say here was not true (which it is) its still disturbing if the son ends up running it. From what I hear, they are going to do 24 and up at the door (laughable). The son isn’t even that old. The whole thing stinks and if you knew these guys you wouldn’t be surprised.

all these comments about the college bars in the area but I find it funny no one mentions THE LANDING ZONE. Is it because its around the corner from the Colonie Police station or maybe they know someone important. I have been told by several Siena students that there is no plumbing in the mens room and that 5 gallon buckets are used as the urinals as well as garbage cans. That is a great way to spread disease and infection. Hopefully Mr. Barnes you could look into this seeing that you want to be an advocate against overpacked and underage drinking.

if there were more bars that werent shut down they wouldnt be so crowded. Hasnt anyone learned the more you try to fight the rebellion of youth the more the situation escalates? College student will drink reguardless of whether grouchy old squares want them to or not, you only make it harder on yourselves. Let kids have fun, now if only the APD could do something about the violent crimes in the student slums instead of harrassing college student for having house parties…….